Han Hyo-joo | News

"Beauty Inside - Drama" remake coming next year 2017/11/21, Source,
The movie "Beauty Inside" will be made into a drama. The film revolves around a man who wakes up in a new body everyday and the woman who loves him, while the drama will switch the gender roles and have it be the woman who faces the challenge of a new body every day and the man who loves her.
with a change of gender in the main roles. The movie revolves around Han Hyo-joo changing into 120 different men but in the drama, a man will change into different women.,...More

5 Actresses Who Were Born Under Strict Soldier Fathers2017/07/26, Source,
Apparently, the daughters of the soldiers are beautiful! Being born to a soldier's family, the children often turns out to be polite and respectful. So it's no wonder that the 5 actresses below are known for their refined dignity and respectful nature as well as their beauty,...More

12 Beautiful actresses who rocked crossdressing2017/07/25,
In the recent drama, "The King Loves", actress Yoona challenged herself in her very first historical drama with a crossdressing role. Yoona's acting improves daily and this time, her foray into a new area of acting has surprised everyone. She is doing well in this role, but her beauty simply can't be hidden behind men's clothing,...More

Who's Your Favorite Historical Drama Goddess?2017/06/29,
Being in a historical drama is more challenging than it seems. Specially for the actresses, being able to look good in the traditional clothes, Hanbok, and the center parted hair-dos can be a bit of a difficult look to pull off if your proportion is not right. Moreover, the tone of the voice and languages used in the historical dramas are very different from that of a modern drama,...More

Top Stars Couple Chemistry in Advertisements2017/06/26, Source,
Sometimes the couple chemistry we see in the advertisements can be even more impactful in our mind than the ones we see in a drama or a movie. Perhaps it's because of the short moment we see them together, it lingers in our head, wanting to see more of them, but some of the advertisement couples have been famous for their chemistry,...More

Little White Dress Look, Who Wore it Best?2017/05/29,
As spring is transitioning into summer, it's a perfect setting to wear a light, white dresses! We all know that every women should own a little black dress but if we have a black one, shouldn't we get a little white dress also? Well, compare to the black dress, white dress can be a bit difficult to style,...More

[HanCinema Awards] Best Kiss - And the Winner Is...2017/01/02,
There were so many amazing kisses in 2016 to make us melt and swoon. It's time to see which of the couples had your favorite kiss! Thank you so much for helping to make the First Annual HanCinema Awards a success.,...More

[HanCinema Awards] Best Couple in a Drama - And the Winner Is...2016/12/31,
The couples that powered 2016's romantic inertia with their sweet interactions received your votes. It was a fierce competition and now it's time to reveal the winning couple. Thank you so much for helping to make the First Annual HanCinema Awards a success.,...More

[Hot Takes from the Noonas] 2016 MBC Drama Awards fashion show2016/12/31,
It's time for the year-end award ceremonies when the three major Korean broadcasters use trophies to reward their top performing actors and dramas. So, let's focus on what really matters: the red carpet fashion. First up: the 2016 MBC Drama Awards!,...More

[HanCinema Awards] Best Actress in a Drama - And the Winner Is...2016/12/27,
For the past two weeks you all have voted for who you, HanCinema Readers, have supported as the "Best Actress in Drama". Today it's time to reveal who you have chosen as your favorite leading lady. We thank you so much for being a part of the First Annual HanCinema Awards and for making it a success.,...More

[HanCinema Awards] Best Kiss in a Drama2016/12/17,
The turning point and highlight of many-a-drama is the kiss. If we're lucky, there are more than one. But a kiss defines the boiling point of a K-drama relationship and is a beautiful thing to watch. There were many fine kisses in 2016. Vote for your favorite from December 17 to December 24. The results will be announced the last week of 2016!,...More

[HanCinema Awards] Best Couple in a Drama - Cast Your Vote!2016/12/15,
A drama that can make its audience root for a couple, ship the couple, love the couple, cry with the couple, and laugh with the couple is a strong drama indeed. Romance is a huge driving factor in K-drama and it is only right to take a look at the best K-drama couples of 2016. From December 15 to December 22 vote for your favorite drama couple!,...More

Busan Film Fest Off to Smooth Start Despite Aftermath of Typhoon2016/10/07, Source,
The Busan International Film Festival opens in the southern port city on Thursday.
This year's Busan International Film Festival kicked off its 10-day run on Thursday, just a day after typhoon Chaba caused heavy damage along Busan's coastline as it ripped through southern Korea on Wednesday,...More

Han Hyo-joo, Han Ye-ri and Ahn Sung-ki, a preview into the Red Carpet Event2016/10/05, Source,
Movie stars are going to decorate the Red Carpet this year.
The Busan International Film Festival is opening its curtains on the 6th for ten days. The event has gone through conflicts between Busan City and the committee as well as a storm that hit Busan on the 5th, a day before the opening. However, several national and international stars are going to attend to make it a successful opening,...More

The 21st Busan International Film Festival opens at last 2016/10/05, Source,
The BIFF is finally opening after all unfavorable favors.
The 21st Busan International Film Festival is opening its curtains on October 6 for 10 days. 301 films from 69 countries will be introduced this year and 123 World Premieres and International Premieres will be screened in 5 theaters,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "W" Episode 16 Final2016/09/14,
It's uncanny how "W" closes out with an exploration of loss and withdrawl that has less to do with what's happening in the actual story and more to do with how we, as viewers, come to terms with the reality of the story finally ending. Make no mistake- Yeon-joo is almost entirely a passive observer here. And whether or not Yeon-joo gets a happy ending, she is leaving us in much the same way that Cheol is leaving her. The epilogue can't really change that,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "W" Episode 152016/09/08,
Even though there's not all that much physical violence this episode the morbidity is pretty strong. As the main characters find themselves with increasingly little ability to change the webtoon world they become more and more resigned to fate. Well, Cheol and Seong-moo do anyway. Yeon-joo, having largely managed to recover from her near fatal bullet wound, is determined to keep trying to make an effort to shoot for a happy ending,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "W" Episode 142016/09/07,
At this point "W" is in a stage of kind of being an epilogue but not quite. Yeon-joo is in the hospital, and everyone is of course worrying about how that's going to work out. However, another more nagging question yet remains. I'm not referring to the worldbuilding aspect of "W", but rather how all these silly webtoon antics have consistently resulted in people actually getting killed. Watching characters seriously react to the prospect of a loved one dying puts all of this in sharp perspective,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "W" Episode 132016/09/01,
Cheol's two reactions to the discovery that his world is a webtoon are completely opposite of one another. This is entirely a matter of context. The first Cheol discovered the existence of the "Real" world through standard deductions as a part of his normal everyday work, and the revelation destroyed him. This Cheol hit absolute rock bottom, to the point of contemplating suicide- so the existence of a "Real" world to him was a form of salvation,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "W" Episode 122016/08/31,
For once, an episode of "W" ends without a shocking revelation prompting an intense cliffhanger. To date director Jeong Dae-yoon has done a very good job keeping the excitement quotient so high that the general craziness of the overall proceedings has never been in question. But this time, with Cheol focused as he is on life in the "Real" world, rather than his revenge fantasy, well, the more magical aspects of the story are more difficult to ignore,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "W" Episode 112016/08/25,
The "Real" world in "W" is starting to resemble a horror story. Granted, all there really is to worry about is Seong-moo's freaky make-up and the whole hands popping through computer screens issue, but even that is more than enough to get across that the situation is legitimately scary. Even if, as Yeon-joo quickly discovers, these are actually relatively easy problems to overcome as long as she keeps her wits about her,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "W" Episode 102016/08/24,
The production team in "W" is able to get quite a bit of mileage out of just looking at scenes from a new angle. It helps that the most dynamic scenes in "W" are so crazy and out there they're no less shocking the second time around. Even so, those of you wondering just how it is that the villain got so powerful there's a surprisingly convincing logistical explanation for that. It's little wonder that we didn't think of it, since Seong-moo forgot too and he's the one who writes this stuff,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "W" Episode 92016/08/18,
My main takeaway from "W" at this point is that good writing is hard. Much like the last time Cheol tried to "solve" the problems created by Seong-woo's inability to finish the story in a convincing, compelling fashion, this time too we're left with a resolution that's just kind of...blech. In a lot of ways this is a problem with the serial detective format in general. If the main character devotes all of his energy to solving episodic crimes with no progression in the main plot, it's pretty inevitable that the final personal backstory case is going to be a letdown,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "W" Episode 82016/08/17,
The shrouded static villain is weirdly sympathetic in a way, because its entire existence is the arbitrary creation of a Godlike figure who never bothered to impart any meaningful personality traits onto his creation. I can't help but see this character as being the personification of fan rage. Sure, we've only been watching "W" for seven episodes, but the in-universe fanbase has been waiting years only to be suddenly told that plot arc isn't going to end because now the story's a romance,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "W" Episode 72016/08/10,
A disproportionate amount of energy in "W" is spent on writer Song Jae-jeong justifying her own story. Well, technically Yeon-joo is the one rationalizing why Cheol's story needs to continue, but the script in "W" constantly feels like Song Jae-jeong laying out her own scriptwriting process bare for us all to see. And yes, Kang Cho-yun is in fact a real person who really did compete at the Olympics once upon a time. Wherever Kang Cho-yun is today, I imagine she's rather bewildered that her name has come up in pop culture now all of a sudden,...More

"W" in the lead for 3 weeks 2016/08/08, Source,
MBC drama "W" is on a roll as it's been in first place of overall drama rankings for 3 weeks in a row.
Good Dare Cooperation announced that "W" recorded 25,751 points and has been in the lead for 3 weeks. SBS drama "Doctors" came in second and MBC "Infinite Challenge" came in third. "W" has a share of 18.1% in drama,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "W" Episode 62016/08/04,
Recent events have led "W" to a bit of an impasse. Cheol figures out a way to "solve" all the problems mentioned by Seong-moo, but as expected this solution is completely unsatisfying from a narrative standpoint. It also brings up all sorts of weird issues with quantum mechanics and zen philosophy. Can Cheol really "die" if he's not alive in the first place? To what extent does Cheol even exist if his actions are defined by the "Real" people who observe him?,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "W" Episode 52016/08/03,
There's a perspective shift from Yeon-joo to Cheol here, which ends up explaining a lot of details about the premise of "W" that until now have been unclear. First of all, we know what the title "W" refers to internally now, and have a better grasp of the sequence of events that led Cheol from tragic backstory to genius investigator. But the more important shift is Cheol's emotional state. By reading the "W" comic book, Cheol can see his entire life pass in front of him,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "W" Episode 42016/07/28,
One of the factors that makes Cheol such a fascinating protagonist is that he is legitimately really smart. Even though the guy's a character in a genre thriller comic, Cheol thinks like an actual real person. When crazy bizarre contrivances jump out of nowhere for the sole apparent purpose of killing him, Cheol merely notes that there is no such thing as coincidence. And he's right, even if the real answer is much stranger than Cheol could have ever possibly imagined,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "W" Episode 32016/07/27,
Yeon-joo does not have the slightest idea how to explain the existence of Cheol's parallel universe, so she starts investigating the only place with potential answers- her dad's annotations. But Seong-woo's authorial notes aren't special features intended for reader enjoyment. They're surprisingly painful recollections of a difficult time in Seong-woo's life, and how the main plot movements in "W" were all reactions to Seong-woo's emotional state. That is, until Cheol took on a life os his own and started building Seong-woo's life much as Seong-woo built Cheol's,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "W" Episode 22016/07/21,
It would appear that on top of her other characteristics Yeon-joo is also a drama critic. Go figure. Well, in all fairness practically every real-life character in "W" has some sort of strong opinion about how fictional stories should proceed. And Seong-moo, in typical famous author fashion, arrogantly dismisses any notion that there is a "correct" way to write a story. He wants to kill Cheol and by golly, he's going to succeed no matter how obviously contrived the process is,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "W" Episode 12016/07/20,
Cheol (played by Lee Jong-suk) is an Olympic level marksman who is framed for a horrible crime, wallowing away in despair before finally becoming determined to locate the true perpetrator. Cheol is also a fictional character in a webtoon by Seong-moo (played by Kim Eui-sung), who is also the father of Yeon-joo (played by Han Hyo-joo), a clumsy doctor who juggles medical responsibilities with an active social position as the daughter of a famous webtoon artist. Matters take a turn for the weird when Yeon-joo is left alone with a manuscript that appears to clumsily kill Cheol off,...More

[Guest Film Review] "Always" + Video2016/07/16,
One day in S. Korea, a filmmaker was wondering how he could shoot a blockbuster. Firstly, he considered which genres are the most popular and he came up with melodrama, action, and romance. Then he considered what elements usually draw crowds in a movie and he came up with well-built male protagonist, cute female one, and dogs. After all this thought he concluded: I will direct a film that will entail all of the above and I will break the box office. Although this story is fictional, it could well have been the way Song Il-gon decided to shoot this film. However, "Always" ended up being a flick rather than a commercial success, despite the fact that during the 2011 Busan International Film Festival, the 2000 online tickets for its premier were sold out in a record seven seconds,...More

[Orion's Drama News] Recurring Trends and Great Ladies2016/07/09,
What would Dramaland be without its love for trends? The answer is "probably better", but let us not go into the value of those trends for now. They are here and they will join us for the next drama season. Coming up are loves across time and universes as well as two major "reverse harem" productions. I will also talk about tvN as a star magnet and give you the usual weekly news,...More

Song Joong-ki in first place for 5 months in a row2016/06/27, Source,
Song Joog-ki is in the lead for brand reputation for 5 months in a row.
According to brand reputation for advertisement models, Song Joong-ki came in 1st, Park Shin-hye 2nd and Taeyeon 3rd.
The Korean Business and Reputation Research Institute measured consumers' brand participation and communication by analyzing 41,004,104 big data of 20 advertisement models from the 24th of May 2016 to 25th of June 2016,...More

Moviegoers Prefer Older Stars, Watching Alone2016/06/19, Source, Hwang Jung-min and Kim Hye-soo have been named the most popular actor and actress in an email survey of 10,286 people by the Chosun Ilbo and ticketing site Max Movie. Kim was also voted best actress, while best actor went to Song Kang-ho. All three are all in their 40s, while only a few stars in their 20s made it into the top 10. The results clearly reflect the changing demographic of moviegoers in Korea,...More

"Uncontrollably Fond" VS "W" VS "Incarnation of Jealousy": Hot summer battle 2016/06/06, Source,
It is unpredictable. No one can know which is more superior. The three ground-wave dramas are battling against each other. They say a drama is a writer's art. Three dramas with tight scenarios and the best cast are competing against each other and it's going to be intense.
The greatest drama so far is the KBS 2TV drama "Descendants of the Sun" which ended in April. After that, dramas battled to be the best on the 10% range. "Lucky Romance" has taken its place and is running on top rank but the gap between it and the second ranking drama isn't that much,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] "Spirits' Homecoming"2016/04/30,
During the Japanese Occupation of Korea, Jeong-min (played by Kang Ha-na) and Yeong-hee (played by Seo Mi-ji) are mostly unremarkable teenage girls who live in the countryside with their parents. The prospects of the young women take a radical turn in 1943, when Japanese soldiers arrive looking for sources of comfort to comrades stressed out and rendered borderline insane by the neverending war in the Pacific. Insanity proves to be a recurring theme in "Spirits' Homecoming", as Jeong-min and Yeong-hee struggle to avoid it,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] "Love, Lies"2016/04/23,
During the Japanese Occupation of Korea, So-yool (played by Han Hyo-joo) and Yeon-hee (played by Chun Woo-hee) are friends raised together as proper gisaengs, inheritors to Korea's traditional musical culture. The prospects of the young women take a radical turn in 1943, when they meet Yoon-woo (played by Yoo Yeon-seok), an aspiring songwriter who wishes to break the yoke of Japanese oppression by using music, as a weapon,...More

[Orion's Drama News] Powerhouse Pairings and Another Exclusive2016/04/02,
Spring is fun, but summer is winking at us and throwing popular pairings at our faces. We are paying attention, summer. Join me as I give you some pretty exciting casting news, more upcoming drama goodies and ramblings. Also, Jasper Cho! No, I cannot actually give him to you, but you could have your question answered by him in our upcoming exclusive interview,...More

Han Hyo-joo, Chun Woo-hee and Kim Ok-bin, the muses that took over the screens2016/03/09, Source,
'God! Thirty diva' is the term referred to actresses or singers who have outstanding talents. Those divas who were born in 1987 are turning thirty or have turned thirty already this year.
These 'girls' build on their filmography all these years and have become legit actresses. They have come past their 20s and have settled in their 30s now which allows them more room,...More

What Movie Ticket Sales Say About Tastes Across the Country2015/12/18, Source,
Seoul citizens made up 24 percent of cinemagoers in the country this year. Films which see a flood of advance ticket sales tend to have a high percentage of audiences from Seoul, mainly due to a more established culture of booking tickets. Films with a high percentage of audiences from the provinces tended to stay at the top of the box office for longer,...More

Will Jun Ji-hyun win Best Actress?2015/11/25, Source,
Will it be Jun Ji-hyun or not? The public is also looking down several ways with the Best Actress at the Blue Dragon coming up.
The Best Actress, also known as the 'flower of the awards' has everyone's attention as the 36th Blue Dragon Awards is going to be the final film award of the year,...More

Red Faces at Daejong Film Awards as Stars Stay Home2015/11/23, Source,
What was touted as Korea's most prestigious movie awards turned into a farce Friday evening as none of the nominees for best actor and actress turned up. The nine nominated stars cited a variety of reasons for their absence from the annual Daejong Film Awards, from prior engagements to being out of the country, but it looked suspiciously like an organized boycott,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] "Beauty Inside"2015/09/05,
Woo-jin (voiced by Yoo Yeon-seok) is a man with a unique problem- every time he wakes up in the morning, Woo-jin is an entirely new person. Young, old, man, woman, beautiful, ugly, Korean, foreigner. To some extent there are advantages to this. We see early on that whenever Woo-jin hits the sweet spot of young / man / beautiful / Korean, he goes out with his buddy Sang-baek (played by Lee Dong-hwi) to hit the bars and get laid. One night stands are quite easy when a changing face makes it quite literally impossible for any woman to ever have any hope of finding him again,...More

[HanCinema's Box Office Review] 2015.08.21 ~ 2015.08.232015/08/24, "Veteran" eyes 10 million…Ryoo Seung-wan's crime drama "Veteran" has once again emerged at the top of the pile as it enjoys a third week as Korea's number one. "Veteran" saw another sizeable weekend as it added 1.3 million admissions (43%) to move its total tally to just over 9 million ($59.1 million). Last weekend Ryoo's crime drama attracted a massive 2.2 million filmgoers, and the weekend before that saw 1.9 million flock to its screens, and now the films is poised to join an elite group of South Korea films that have claimed 10 million admissions,...More

Han Hyo-joo in mini dress
2015/06/04, Source,
On June 4, actress Han Hyo-joo is entering the venue for the press conference of movie 'Beauty Inside". The event took place at Apgujeong CGV in Shinsa-dong, Seoul.
"Beauty Inside" is a unique fantasy love story between Woo-jin, a man who turns into a different person every morning, and Yi-soo, a woman, who falls in love with the man,...More

Not idol but actor Junho2015/04/15, Source, Junho has starred in three movies so far. The three movies are "Cold Eyes", "Memories of the Sword" and "Twenty".
What is surprising is that he has grown into an actor in just 3 movies. Some may be prejudice and say that he's got an advantage because of his idol image. However, he's too good to criticize. He's already doing well enough 'for an idol',...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] "C'est Si Bon"2015/02/21,
The time is the sixties. The place- a hip sixties bar by the name of "C'est Si Bon". Hyeong-joo (played by Kang Ha-neul) and Chang-sik (played by Jo Bok-rae) are two talented young musicians who seem to genuinely despise each other. Enter Geun-tae (played by Jeong Woo), a somewhat less talented man who the other characters hope will even Hyeong-joo and Chang-sik out. It doesn't work. Ultimately these three are only able to form a functional folk band because of Ja-yeong (played by Han Hyo-joo). She doesn't join the band or anything. It's just, you know, Han Hyo-joo. She's pretty hot,...More

C'est Si Bon (2014)2015/02/08, Source, "C'est Si Bon"
Genres: Drama and Romance
Running Time: 123 min.
Directed by: Kim Hyun-seok
Starring: Kim Yun-seok, Jeong Woo, Han Hyo-joo, Kim Hee-ae
Synopsis: In the late 1960s, C'est Si Bon is the music bar where every acoustic band's dream lies. There Geun-tae, a naïve country boy, meets the young musical prodigies Hyung-joo and Chang-sik, and forms the band named after it -- the C'est Si Bon Trio. As the three young artists bicker over their music, beautiful socialite Ja-young enters the picture and becomes their muse, and a series of moving love songs come from it. Geun-tae's pure-heartedness wins Ja-young over but when she accepts a once-in-lifetime opportunity for a shot at an acting career, they part ways. After 20 years, the untold story of their love, song, and youth at C'est Si Bon is finally brought to light,...More

[HanCinema's Lists] The Top 5 Korean Period Films of All-Time2014/01/10,
Korean period features are big business that, when done right, really do bring in the big bucks. The past few years, in particular, have yielded some stellar titles that have seriously resonated with local audiences. This trend is set to continue in 2014 as a host of new historical dramas and action flicks are lining up to try and capture the public's imagination by re-framing the past in unique and exciting ways. Some of the historical films to look out for in 2014 include: "KUNDO : Age of the Rampant", "A Touch of Zen", "Pirates", "The Huntresses", and "Battle Of Myeongryang"; but before we usher in these new historical yarns, here's a quick look at the five highest grossing Korean period films of all-time that this year's entries will hope to challenge,...More

Song Kang-ho, Jeon Do-yeon Named Most Memorable Actors of 20132013/12/23, Source, Song Kang-ho (left) and Jeon Do-yeon
A record 227.8 million people had watched the 623 films screened in Korean theaters this year as of Saturday. Multiplex chain CGV says data from U.K. media research firm Screen Digest show that every Korean watched on average 4.12 films in cinema this year, beating the U.S'. 3.88 films per person to top the world for the first time. Some films were good, others a way of killing time. The Chosun Ilbo and booking site Maxmovie asked 2,622 people who were the most memorable actors and what the most memorable films of the year,...More

Ex-Manager Charged with Blackmailing Han Hyo-joo2013/11/26, Source,
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office on Monday indicted the ex-manager of actress Han Hyo-joo for trying to extort W10 million from her father by threatening to publish compromising photos of the actress (US$1=W1,062). A car dealer and another individual were charged as accomplices,...More

Korean actresses no longer pretend to be pretty, weak, ingenuous2013/11/11, Source,
Korean actresses have changed. They are giving up pretending to be pretty, weak and ingenuous.
Kim Sun-ah, model-turned actress who is 170 centimeters (near six feet) tall plays the role of a woman paralyzed from waist down in the movie "The Five" that will be released Thursday. Instead of showing off her slim legs, she rides an electric wheelchair with both legs tied up. A woman who lost her husband and daughter by a murderer, she is a vengeful person. To show such emotions, Kim has disheveled hair, and her face is bruised since she fights with the murderer.
Jeon Do-yeon in "Way Back Home" plays a woman who is falsely accused of carrying drugs and is locked up in a jail in a foreign country. She doesn`t give off charm of a femme fatal. Ha Ji-won performs a swordsmanship action at "Chosun`s Angels" that will be released in early next year,...More

Korean Film No Longer Wedded to Romance2013/08/03, Source,
Romance has apparently all-but disappeared from Korean films these days. It is something of a time-honored rule of thumb to include some love interest among the main characters of a Korean movie, regardless of genre. As recently as last year, box-office hits such as "The Thieves" and "Masquerade" all featured romantic tugs-of-war, or characters with a burning passion for someone. Even if the romance was not at the heart of the movie, it was always there to add spice to the plot,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] There is "Always" hope...2013/07/20, Song Il-gon's "Always" has completely won me over. There are a lot of Korean romantic dramas out there, but only a few of them manage to stay favourites. Great Korean love stories such as "Chunhyang", "The Servant", "Bad Guy", and "My Sassy Girl" come to my mind and, after watching So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo on screen together, I think I can safely state that I have another love-struck nugget of a film to add to that list.
Cheol-min (So Ji-sub) is a hard working 30-year old labourer and part-time security guard. He is also an ex-boxer with a dark and haunting history, a past that he is desperately seeking redemption for. During his first night as a security guard Cheol-min gets serendipitously introduced to Jeong-hwa (Han Hyo-joo), a visually impaired (clinically blind) woman with an adorable persona,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] "Cold Eyes"2013/07/12,
A highly organized gang of criminals engage in an expertly designed, high precision heist. Given how painstakingly detailed the plan seems to be, and what happens to the one criminal foolish enough to deviate from it by even a second, there was one thing I couldn't get. If the whole point of phase one was to trick people into thinking the bank robbers were actually government employees, why did the police arrive on the scene barely a minute after the crime was finished?
"Cold Eyes" is an action-packed thriller that gets all the bare minimums of the genre down accurately,...More

'Cold Eyes' Smashes 2-Million Mark in First Week2013/07/10, Source, "Cold Eyes" hit the 2-million mark in cinema attendance on Tuesday within a week of its release. According to data supplied by the Korean Film Council, the film sold 204,902 tickets on Tuesday alone to sit atop the local box office. The accumulated number of spectators was 2.17 million. The film has dominated the local box office since its release on July 3, beating Hollywood blockbuster "World War Z". It received much attention for its star-studded cast, including Sul Kyung-gu, Jung Woo-sung and Han Hyo-joo. As Jeong plays a villain for the first time in his career, it drew even more attention from fans. The movie revolves around a group of detectives who track down high-profile criminals,...More

Han Hyo-joo Hopes to See Altruistic Spirit Spread2013/06/27, Source,
Actress Han Hyo-joo has made a charitable donation of W30 million (US$1=W1,155). She donated one-third of the money to buy electric fans and summer blankets for senior citizens who live alone, and gave the rest to support other elderly people in need and abandoned youngsters,...More

The Korean Film Festival comes to Montreal2013/06/26, Source, In celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Korea, a selection of 10 outstanding Korean films will be showcased in Montreal from July 4th to 10th, 2013.
Ciné-Asie, along with the major support of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, presents the first edition of the Korean Film Festival in Canada – KFF – which will be launched in five Canadian cities, highlighting Montreal in partnership with the Cineplex Odeon Forum and Mosaicultures Internationales Montréal at the Montreal Botanical Garden (an event that expects nearly two million visitors this summer), the KFF anticipates to receive a large number of visitors for its first edition. For the first time, the KFF website is composed in three different languages: English, French, and Korean.
The KFF will present ten full length feature films and five short films.
The feature films are either the highest grossing movies in recent years, totalling 7 to 13 million admissions in South Korea, or have gained international critical acclaims, winning significant awards. Among them include Kim Ki-duk's "Pieta" (Le grand prix at Venice 2012), "Miracle in Cell No.7" (over 12 million admissions in Korea, 2013), and "Masquerade" starring actor Lee Byung-hun (over 12 million admissions in Korea, 2012),...More

Film Audiences Favor Grown-Up Experience2013/04/30, Source, Ha Jung-woo and Kim Hye-soo have been voted the most popular actor and actress in Korea in a poll by the Chosun Ilbo and the country's biggest ticketing site Maxmovie. But Hwang Jung-min and Jeon Do-yeon were named as the best actor and actress. ◆ Mature Actors, Mature Audiences Remarkably, most of the top 10 most popular actors and actresses are in their 30s to 50s, the only exception being Han Hyo-joo, who is in her 20s. The average age for male and female actors is 42.7 and 34.1. Of the actors, only four are in their 30s, including Ha, Gang Dong-won and Won Bin. A large proportion of the entrants on the popularity list starred in hit movies over the past two years, but Won, Kang, Lee Na-young and Kim Tae-hee managed to stay popular by only appearing in commercials,...More

[HanCinema's Box Office Review] January2013/02/02,
It was a hard month for foreign films here in Korea as January favoured three local films that, between them, held a tight grip on the ticket sales. Lee Hwan-gyeong's "Miracle in Cell No.7" may have stolen the show in the last weekend of the month, but it was Kim Ji-hoon's fiery epic "The Tower" and Jo Jin-kyoo's 5th comedy "Man on the Edge" that held that top position until then. In the foreign corner, two adaptations stood out in the form of the musical drama "Les Misérables" and "Life of Pi". The former has grossed $38.6 million over its six week run in Korean theatres, with "The Tower" close behind on $34.4 million,...More

Actor Go Soo Becomes A Happy Father2013/01/29, Source,
Actor Go Soo and his wife Kim Hye-yeon welcomed a baby boy into their family on January 28th. Their son was born at the Seoul Asan Hospital a bit earlier than expected. However, both mother and baby are healthy and doing well,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] "Love 911"2013/01/11,
Kang-Il (played by Go Soo) is a firefighter who is completely dedicated to saving lives. A little too dedicated, bizarrely enough. He has very little regard for his own security and willfully forces himself into dangerous situations just because. Mi-soo (played by Han Hyo-joo) has the opposite problem. She's a doctor who's willfully forced herself not to show empathy with her patients. The worst thing that can happen to a doctor's career, after all, is admitting any kind of fault- it's a major opening to lawsuits,...More

30-Something Leading Ladies Take Over TV, Films2012/12/07, Source,
The entertainment industry is suffering from a shortage of actresses in their 20s. Most movies and dramas that recently gained a certain level of attention mostly featured actresses aged 30 or over. Producers and filmmakers point out that it is difficult for them to find actresses in their 20s who are suitable for leading roles. Of the 20 most popular movies released this year, Park Bo-young, who starred in "A Werewolf Boy", is the only female lead in this age group. Han Hyo-joo, who is also in her 20s, appeared in the movie "Masquerade", which drew more than 10 million viewers, but her role is greatly overshadowed by both the male lead Lee Byung-hun and supporting actor Ryu Seung-ryong,...More

Gov't Agencies Splash Out on Celebrity Promoters2012/11/17, Source,
Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi has been paid W572 million since 2010 for promoting the lottery for the Ministry of Strategy and Finance (US$1=W1,093). Boy group Super Junior was paid W380 million since March 2010 by the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to promote Korean cuisine around the world. Over the last four years, 41 out of 62 government agencies that hired entertainers as honorary ambassadors spent hundreds of millions to billions of won in modeling fees and other expenses. The 41 government agencies spent more than W6 billion over that period,...More

[Video] Not Your Average Cup of Tea2012/10/28, Source, Green tea is so yesterday – Korean corn silk tea may just be the newest "it" drink.
Though many types of tea have displayed health benefits, studies show that corn silk helps alleviate ailments from kidney stones to carpal tunnel syndrome.
According to the Korea Times, new studies say corn silk even carries anti-cancer agents as well as a chemical that prevent aging of the skin,...More

MASQUERADE sets box office records in South Korea and expands across North America!2012/10/24, Source,
Since its South Korean release on September 13th and its North American release in select cities on September 21st, historical drama "Masquerade" has experienced sweeping success in both countries. In South Korea, "Masquerade" has been topping the weekend box office for six consecutive weeks, reaching 10 million in admissions and becoming the 7th movie in Korean film history to surpass the number. Following a Red Carpet Premiere at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art with Lee Byung-hun and a limited U.S. release, "Masquerade" is now expanding to six more cities, including the brand new Angelika Mosaic in Washington D.C. See added list of theaters and release dates below:,...More

[HanCinema's Box Office Review] September and the Aftermath of the Summer Hits
2012/10/06, HanCinema's Korean Box Office Review (2012.09)
It took ten long weeks at the weekend box office to see off Choi Dong-hoon's "The Thieves", a monumental run that earned the film a recording-breaking 13 million admissions during that time. August was indeed the month its sales caught fire, and the month of September was just a glory lap as it gracefully bows out of the limelight and into the history books.
In addition to the re-writing of the history books, September showed a wavering level of enthusiasm for some of this month's foreign inclusions. Although, "The Bourne Legacy" was able to enter the second weekend on top, snatching 29.3% of the ticket sales in the process. This was the first time a foreign film had held the weekend number one since "The Dark Knight Rises" some seven weeks earlier. In fact, the shelf life for foreign films was on average 2~3 weeks in the top ten,...More

[Guest Post] Heaven's message about love2012/09/28,
By Karen K. Kremes
Television movie released on both television and in cinema, "Postman to Heaven" (천국 의 우편 배달부) is a production between South Korea and Japan.
The film tells the story of JaeJoon (Kim Jae-joong), an angel messenger that has the ability to travel between the real world and heaven delivering letters of people to their deceased loved ones. Character in a fairy tale, he is known as "Postman to Heaven" and can only be seen by those who suffer the loss of someone he loved,...More

Prince-pauper tale gets election-year twist in 'Masquerade'2012/08/14, Source,
This film image released by CJ E&M shows actor Lee Byung-hun as king Gwanghaegun, right, and his commoner double Ha-sun in "Masquerade". The movie by Choo Chang-min is slated for a late September release. / Courtesy of CJ E&M
By Kwaak Je-yup With the presidential election only a few months away, "Masquerade" could not be released at a better time. Inspired by Mark Twain's "The Prince and the Pauper", the historical drama about switched royal identities challenges the audience to think about the system of the government today, specifically the way we see the role of the nation's top job, according to Lee Byung-hun, the lead actor who plays the two protagonists,...More

Lee Byung-hun & Lee Min-jung Deny Dating Rumors2012/04/17, Source,
Both considered top notch actors in Korean entertainment, the rumor mill has been abuzz about latest reports indicating Lee Byung-hun and Lee Min-jung are dating.
One media source reported on April 16th that the 42-year-old actor and the 30-year-old actress had good opinions of each other from earlier this year,a nd had cautiously starting dating. After bumping into one another at various award ceremonies and other work-related gatherings, their work sunbae-hoobae (or senior-junior) work relationship blossomed into a romantic relationship,...More

Finecut dials up Love 9112012/03/14, Source,
Seoul-based sales company Finecut has announced it will be selling the upcoming film "Love 911" starting at the Hong Kong Filmart next week. Starring Go Soo and Han Hyo-joo, the film is about an unlikely romance between a dedicated firefighter with a painful past and a cold-hearted emergency room (ER) doctor who is solely focused on her career.
Notable investment and distribution company N.E.W. is financing and distributing "Love 911" in Korea,...More

Lee Byung-hun To MC Go Soo's Wedding 2012/02/16, Source,
Actor Go Soo will be getting married on February 17th, to a woman 11 years his junior. The wedding will take place at the Dynasty Hall at the Shilla Hotel located in Seoul. It turns out that Go Soo's fellow agency member Lee Byung-hun will be emceeing the ceremony!
Furthermore, actor Lee Soon-jae will be officiating while singer Gummy will be singing the congratulatory song,...More

Korea's most anticipated films of 20122012/02/10, Source, With the start of the new year, the Korean film industry looks to its brightest prospects. Kang Byung-jin profiles eight highly anticipated films of 2012.
"The Fortune Tellers"In production. Directed by Sin Jeong-won. Starring Kim Soo-ro, Lee Je-hoon, Kang Ye-won. Produced by Dasepo Club, Saram Entertainment. Distributed by N.E.W.Release planned for the first half of 2012.
Korean fortune-tellers not only tell the future, but they also chase away ghosts. The background of "The Fortune Tellers" is Uljinri where a decades-old evil spirit rules. When mysterious accidents and events keep happening without avail, fortune-tellers from all over the country gather to hold a shaman ritual,...More

From Korea with love2012/02/10, Source, Bangkok-based writer and critic Kong RITHDEE looks at the influence of Korean moving images in Thailand and gauges the depth of the Korean Wave.
In late January, So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo walked down the red carpet at HuaHin International Film Festival, the inaugural edition of the cinefest held in Thailand's popular resort town. Reporters gathered with high expectations, and the photos of the two Koreans were splashed across most newspapers the next day. "'Dong Yi' Star In Thailand!" screamed some of the headlines, referring to Han's famous TV series. So's and Han's new film"Always" opened in Bangkok the following weekend.
Ten years ago, it was unthinkable to see pictures of Korean movie stars on the pages of Thai national dailies. Of course things have changed, and Korea has implanted itself in the pop-consciousness of Thai audiences in a way that's culturally spectacular and plainly phenomenal,...More

K-Celebrities now VCR22012/01/26, Source,
On January 19th, a very special concert in Seoul featured Han Hyo-joo, Lee Je-hoon, and Hyolyn! The audience members got to watch movies, talk with the stars, and listen to music. Let's check it out.
It's a weekday night, but this theater in Seoul is filled with excited fans. They're all headed to the same place!,...More

Han Hyo-joo Seeking More Challenging Roles in Movies2011/10/15, Source,
Actress Han Hyo-joo (24) starred in the movie "Always", which premiered as the opening film of the Busan International Film Festival this year. It is a tear-jerking melodrama that speaks to people's hidden desires, she said.
"I always wanted to do a movie about true love. I wanted to move audiences through something everyone thinks of as being a cliché", Han said. "Everyone says ever-lasting love is impossible, but they long for it and dream about it",...More

Han Hyo-joo steps into Japan as well2011/10/11, Source,
Actress Han Hyo-joo is going to sign a contract with a Japanese management company and is ready to officially enter Japan.
According to Japanese media Spornichi, Han Hyo-joo is about to sign a contract with Japanese management company Furam in October. The company she chose to sign with has popular Japanese actress Hirosue Ryoko as a member.,...More

[BIFF Everything] Han Hyo-joo has autograph session in front of an elevator2011/10/09, Source,
-- Jang Dong-gun and Joe Odagiri had drinks at a street vendor stall on October 6th. After the opening ceremony of BIFF, the "My Way" duo sat down at a street stall and tipped soju glasses into their mouths all night. Bodyguards surrounded the vendor street.
-- Han Hyo-joo had an off-schedule autograph session. She was surrounded by 20 or so Japanese fans on October 7th, at the Grand Hotel lobby elevator. Her bodyguards tried to stop them but she gave them her autograph and held their hands. She experienced the popularity that sold out all the tickets for "Always" within seven seconds of its release,...More

Busan film festival opens to star-studded fanfare, Always2011/10/07, Source, By KOFIC Staff
Despite some concern over construction delays at the Busan Cinema Center, the 16th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has opened at the new dedicated venue on schedule and with a galaxy of local and international stars on the red carpet. The festival opened Oct. 6 with the world premiere of Song Il-gon's ill-fated love story Always, starring So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo.
The film had sold out in seven seconds and the director and his stars were greeted with huge cheers as they stepped onto the Busan Cinema Center's red carpet with festival director LEE Yong Kwan. Song declared, "This is a great honor in my life",...More

[Photo N] Actress' love for black, BIFF2011/10/06, Source,
The 16th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) opening ceremony took place at a movie hall in Haeundae, Busan on the 6th of October.
Busan prepared its own 'movie hall' and changed its English name for the area from 'Pusan' to 'Busan' making it the Busan International Festival and the project market PPP to Asian Project Market.,...More

Song Il-gon: 'So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo Are Excellent Actors'2011/09/21, Source,
At the production presentation of the movie "Always", the director Song Il-gon said, "I could not have begun and finished this movie without So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo. Their acting was perfect while filming this movie".
"Always" has attracted many people's attention with its cast members -- star actors So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo -- and its production presentation was held at Apgujeong CGV on September 20. Song Il-gon, who wrote the script and directed the movie, highly praised the two male and female protagonists the whole time during the production presentation. He said about actor So Ji-sub, "He is a perfectionist. He devoted too much to this movie. Even though he injured his wrist, he never showed that he was suffering from pain and he personally appeared in many action scenes without utilizing an understudy,...More

Busan Int'l Film Fest to Shed Light on SE Asian Cinema 2011/09/20, Source,
Asia's largest film festival, the Busan International Film Festival, will be held from Oct. 6 to14 at five theaters in the city of Busan. Some 307 films from 70 countries will be screened, with 135 premiering at the festival.
The festival was formerly known as the Pusan International Film Festival but amended the spelling of its name this year to conform to the official Romanization of the city in which it is held,...More

Busan promises more cinematic fun2011/09/15, Source,
The Busan Film Center, the newly constructed main venue of the 16th Busan (formerly Pusan) International Film Festival (BIFF), opens Sept. 28. Asia's largest cinema showcase opens from Oct. 6 to 14 in the southern port city. (Yonhap)
Festival finds new niche at Busan Film Center
Standing tall and wide, and at an odd angle like an upside pyramid, the Busan Film Center in Haeundae Centum City is hard to miss,...More

The best combination of a couple?2011/04/17, Source,
This year started off with human drama ("Late Blossom") or comedy dramas ("Suicidal Forecast"). It's not easy to see a heart trembling mellow flick. Which couple from the mellow flicks that are due this later half of this year, are audiences looking forward to see the most?
■ "Always" Se Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo,...More

Major Earthquake in Japan: 'No More Bad News'2011/03/15, Source,
People in the entertainment business have begun activities to help Japan while they have had to cancel their schedules in Japan.
As the massive quake that hit the northeast Japan caused heavy casualties, many people in the entertainment business including Hallyu stars are offering heartfelt condolences and consolation one after another. In addition, aid groups have begun activities to donate profits to the victims from the major earthquake by holding events such as the "Rock Festival", which will be held in front of the Hongik University. The host of the festival revealed that they would donate the entire profits from the event to the earthquake victims,...More

'Rabbit' celebrities to make leaps in 2011 2010/12/31, Source,
By Kwon Mee-yoo
People born in the Year of the Rabbit are considered skillful and diligent, though not very patient in Korean traditional beliefs, following the traits of real rabbits, a small but clever animal.
The hottest rabbit star could be singer and actor Lee Seung-gi who was born in 1987, turning 24 this year,...More

Stars Born in Year of Rabbit2010/12/23, Source,
As the year 2011 is the year of the rabbit, many star actors who were born in the year of rabbit – year 1951, 1963, and 1987 – are making a fresh resolution to make a new leap forward next year. Let's take a look at those stars who were born in the year of the rabbit and have actively been performing in the various fields of broadcasting, movies, and music,...More

[INTERVIEW] Child actress Kim Yoo-jung - Part 12010/12/22, Source,
Actress Kim Yoo-jung [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]
It has become awkward to call Kim Yoo-jung a 'child actress'. Other than the fact that she is young, her experience and acting skill she displays on the small and big screen easily surpasses that of adult actors.
In MBC TV series "Dong Yi", she held onto the attention of viewers in the show's early stages playing the young version of Dong Yi (Han Hyo-joo), in KBS drama "Grudge: The Revolt of Gumiho" she showed the pitiful state her character is in as the weak one who holds deep sorrow within as well as being the protagonist of the tragic melodrama, and in MBC's "Flame of Desire" she extraordinarily pulled off the double role as the young versions of Na-young (Shin Eun-kyoung) and Hye-jin (Seo Woo) who are venomous to the point they are naughty. Hence Kim could be regarded one of the most impressive actors of the year,...More

Actor Ji Jin-hee receives warm welcome in Hong Kong 2010/12/14, Source,
Actor Ji Jin-hee in Hong Kong from December 11 to 13 [N.O.A. Entertainment]
Korean actor Ji Jin-hee received a warm welcome from fans in Hong Kong over the weekend, according to his agency N.O.A. Entertainment.
N.O.A. stated through its press release Tuesday that Ji, who went on a promotional tour to Hong Kong to promote historical drama "Dong Yi", received a hearty welcome from both drama fans and the press during his stay from December 11 to 13,...More

Ji Jin-hee to visit Hong Kong to promote "Dong Yi"2010/12/10, Source,
Actor Ji Jin-hee [N.O.A Entertainment]
Korean actor Ji Jin-hee will visit Hong Kong over the weekend to promote historical drama "Dong Yi", according to his agency N.O.A. Entertainment on Friday.
N.O.A. announced in a press release that the actor and his co-star Han Hyo-joo from the series will visit Hong Kong from December 11 to 13 to promote "Dong Yi", a 60-part historical drama which has gone on air during the prime time slot of cable channel i-CABLE starting mid-November,...More

Ji Jin-hee to visit Taiwan to promote drama "Dong Yi"2010/11/10, Source,
Actor Ji Jin-hee [N.O.A Entertainment]
Korean actor Ji Jin-hee will leave for Taiwan next week to promote historical drama "Dong Yi", the latest TV series he starred in, according to his agency N.O.A. Entertainment on Wednesday.
N.O.A. announced in a press release that the actor will visit Taiwan from November 14 to 16 to promote "Dong Yi", a 60-part historical drama which will air on Taiwan's GTV starting November 15 at 9 p.m,...More

Grand Mint Festival takes place under a star and a moon2010/10/29, Source,
From left, No Reply vocalist Kwon Soon-kwan and actress Han Hyo-joo at this year's Grand Mint Festival held at the Olympic Park in Seoul, South Korea on October 23, 2010. [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]
Guitarist Lee Neung-ryong of Sister's Barbershop said, "The Grand Mint Festival (GMF) is like a festival for herbivores". And vocalist Junsu of Untouched Wind remarked, "GMF's audience are chic". They were not wrong. Most of the audience were swaying their body from left to right while sitting on mats in the picnic zone and even in the standing zone, they were merely clapping their hands or waving their arms in time to the music,...More

Actress Han Hyo-joo Song Picks2010/10/27, Source,
Actress Han Hyo-joo [MBC]
Actress Han Hyo-joo -- we all love to refer to her as "Candy", that bright, spunky girl from the Japanese animation series of the same name who always hangs on. That was her character in "Shining Inheritance" (SBS), a girl who kept her spirits high and strong despite being kicked out of her house by her stepmother and left to tend to her autistic younger brother. The same can be said for the character she played in MBC period drama "Dong Yi" in which Han started out as a lowly palace maid who rises as the king's favorite concubine,...More

Bae Soo-bin to hold first-ever fan meeting in Japan 2010/10/14, Source,
Korean actor Bae Soo-bin [BH Entertainment]
Korean actor Bae Soo-bin will hold his first fan meeting in Japan over the weekend.
A press release from BH Entertainment announced that Bae will meet with about 500 fans at the Nagoya Zero Hall in Tokyo on October 17.
The 33-year-old actor plans on holding various events at the meet-and-greet including playing the guitar for his fans as well as show off his cooking skills as he did in the hit TV series "Shining Inheritance",...More

"Dong Yi" tops TV charts once again for second week2010/09/08, Source,
A scene from the No. 1 show in the country "Dong Yi" [MBC]
MBC's historical epic "Dong Yi" saw a slight drop in ratings but held onto the No. 1 spot on TV charts for the second consecutive week.
Data from TNmS (Total National Multimedia Statistics) on Wednesday revealed that "Dong Yi", into its 50th episode, scored viewership ratings of,...More

"Dong Yi" reclaims lead on Monday and Tuesday nights2010/08/25, Source,
Korean actress Han Hyo-joo as Dong Yi in the No. 1 show in the country "Dong Yi" [MBC]
MBC's historical series "Dong Yi" has regained a slight lead in the competition of Monday and Tuesday night dramas, becoming the most-watched show in the country for the 20th straight week.
Figures from TNmS (Total National Multimedia Statistics) on Wednesday indicated that "Dong Yi", into its 46th episode, saw its viewership ratings increase by an average 1.7 percent compared to the previous week, with ratings of,...More

The Seoul International Drama Festival, to be held from Sept. 1 to 10, will likely provide drama lovers a little bit more than just enjoying the storylines and characters.

First launched in 2006, the annual event will bring various events, showcases and a red carpet event invi,...More

"Slave Hunters" top 'Hallyu' content at Seoul Drama Awards2010/08/23, Source,
Official logo for Seoul International Drama Awards 2010 [Seoul Drama Awards]
Last year's smash hit MBC TV series "The Slave Hunters" will receive the most recognitions for its contribution to the 'Hallyu', or Korean Wave, at this year's Seoul International Drama Awards (SDA).
The Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee announced through a press conference on Friday that the drama itself, its producer Kwak Jeong-hwan and the show's main star Jang Hyeok played the largest role in contributing to the spread of Korean content overseas,...More

Foreign media visit the set of TV series "Dong Yi" 2010/07/29, Source,
Foreign journalists pose with the cast and crew of TV series "Dong Yi" on the show's set in the city of Yong-in, South Korea on July 28, 2010. [MBC]
MBC TV series "Dong Yi" is looking to reignite the Hallyu buzz that director Lee Byeong-hoon had sparked up in 2003 with Lee Young-ae starrer "Jewel in the Palace" ("Dae Jang Geum"), inviting the foreign press to its set in Yong-in yesterday.
Broadcaster MBC said in a press release that Lee opened up the set of his latest historical drama, located in the city of Yong-in, South Korea, on Wednesday to some 50 media journalists from Southeast Asia (25 from Japan, China 14, Thailand 5, Malaysia 4 and Singapore 2), who interviewed the noted director as well as the show's lead actor Ji Jin-hee,...More

Han Hyo-joo named PR ambassador for G20 summit 2010/07/21, Source,
(From left) Figure skater Kim Yuna, actress Han Hyo-joo and soccer player Park Ji-sung
Korean actress Han Hyo-joo, along with figure skater Kim Yuna and soccer player Park Ji-sung, has been named publicity ambassador for the upcoming G20 summit, to be held in Seoul on November 11 and 12.
The G20 organizing committee announced through a press release on Wednesday that they are appointing Han, Kim and Park as PR ambassadors to promote the event to the public for the next four months,...More

Han Hyo-joo named festival lady for music fest GMF20102010/07/16, Source,
Korean actress Han Hyo-joo [photographed by Park Sung-ki/Asia Economic Daily]
Korean actress Han Hyo-joo has been selected as the festival lady for this year's Grand Mint Festival (GMF2010), to be held in Seoul in October.
Mint Paper, who hosts the event, announced Thursday that they have chosen the 23-year-old actress to be the face of GMF2010, saying her "bright, wholesome image as well as her passion for music clicks with Grand Mint Festival",...More

"Dong Yi" upholds No.1 spot on TV charts2010/07/14, Source, Dong Yi (left: Han Hyo-joo) and Jang Hee-bin (right: Lee So-yeon) from the historical drama "Dong Yi-Jewel in the Crown" [MBC]
Ratings for MBC drama "Dong Yi" saw a slight decline this week but maintained its title as the most-watched Monday and Tuesday primetime drama in the country for the 14th consecutive week.
Figures from TNmS (Total National Multimedia Statistics) on Wednesday revealed that viewership ratings for "Dong Yi" stood at 29.1 percent on July 12 and 29.7 percent the following day, recording an average 1.7 percentage point drop compared to last week,...More

"Dong Yi" is stiff competition on Mon-Tues nights2010/07/07, Source, Dong Yi (played by Han Hyo-joo) and Suk-jong (played by Ji Jin-hee) sharing a kiss on MBC's "Dong Yi" [MBC]
MBC TV drama "Dong Yi" continues to be stiff competition for the primetime lineup on Monday and Tuesday nights, remaining the No. 1 show in the country for the 13th consecutive week.
Figures from TNmS (Total National Multimedia Statistics) on Wednesday indicated that "Dong Yi", into its 32nd episode, brought in viewership ratings of 30.8 percent on July 5 and 31.3 percent the next day,...More

"Dong Yi" captures No.1 spot on Mon-Tues nights2010/06/30, Source, Dong Yi (Han Hyo-joo) as a court lady [MBC]
MBC TV series "Dong Yi" has once again captured the No. 1 spot on the charts for Monday and Tuesday night dramas, maintaining high ratings for the 12th consecutive week.
Numbers from TNmS (Total National Multimedia Statistics) on Wednesday revealed that the historical drama recorded viewership ratings of 31.1 percent on June 28 and 31.9 percent the following night. Compared to its previous week, the ratings for the show increased by an average of two percent,...More

"Dong Yi" maintains strong grip on Mon-Tues nights2010/06/23, Source,
King Suk-jong hugs Dong Yi on the set of historical drama "Dong Yi" [MBC]
"Dong Yi" continued to prove that it has a strong grip on Monday and Tuesday TV shows, scoring high ratings for the 11th consecutive week.
Figures from TNmS (Total National Multimedia Statistics) on Wednesday indicated that the historical drama, into its 28th episode, brought in viewership ratings of 29.1 percent on Monday and 30.1 percent the next day. Compared to the previous week however, its ratings showed an average decrease of 2.1 percent,...More

"Dong Yi" dominates Mon and Tues night primetime lineup2010/06/16, Source,
Korean actress Han Hyo-joo on the set of historical drama "Dong Yi" [MBC]
"Dong Yi" dominated the Monday and Tuesday night primetime lineup once again, maintaining its position as the No. 1 show in the country for the tenth consecutive week.
Figures from TNmS (Total National Multimedia Statistics) on Wednesday revealed that the historical series continued to record TV marks in the 30 percent range with ratings of 31 percent on June 14 and 33.1 percent the following night, respectively,...More

"Dong Yi" takes strong lead on Mon and Tues nights2010/06/09, Source,
Actor Ji Jin-hee and actress Han Hyo-joo from "Dong Yi" [MBC]
Ratings for MBC TV series "Dong Yi" continued to take the lead on Monday and Tuesday nights, making it the most-watched television show in the country for nine straight weeks.
Figures from TNmS (Total National Multimedia Statistics) on Wednesday indicated that the show breached the 30 percent mark on last night's episode with viewership ratings of 30.3 percent and 28.1 percent the previous night,...More

"Dong Yi" reigns for eighth consecutive week2010/06/03, Source,
Actress Han Hyo-joo on set of "Dong Yi" [MBC]
Ratings for TV series "Dong Yi" continued to shine, remaining the most-watched television show in the country for the eighth consecutive week.
Figures from TNmS (Total National Multimedia Statistics) on Wednesday revealed that the viewership ratings for "Dong Yi" increased by an average two percent from last week,...More

Japanese idols KAT-TUN want to meet Han Hyo-joo2010/05/26, Source,
Members of the Japanese boy band KAT-TUN [Johnny&Associates]
Japanese idols KAT-TUN have revealed in a monthly magazine that they want to meet Korean actress Han Hyo-joo.
According to an interview the group conducted with Japanese magazine TVnavi, the members talked about their upcoming Asia tour beginning this month in Thailand, Korea and Taiwan, as well as mentioning their interest in Han,...More

"Dong Yi" captures No. 1 spot for seventh week2010/05/26, Source,
Korean actress Han Hyo-joo in "Dong Yi" [MBC]
Ratings for MBC's series "Dong Yi" shown a slight decrease this week but remained the most-watched show in the country on Monday and Tuesday nights.
Statistics from AGB Nielsen Media Research revealed that the viewership rating for "Dong Yi" declined by an average of 0.8 percent from last week. The show brought in ratings of 24.6 percent on May 24 and 22.4 percent the next day,...More

"Dong Yi" stays No. 1 show for sixth week2010/05/19, Source,
"Dong Yi" actress Han Hyo-joo and Lee So-yeon [MBC]
Ratings for historical epic "Dong Yi" turned to a decline this week but maintained its position at No. 1 on TV charts for the sixth consecutive week.
Figures released by TNS Media Korea revealed that "Dong Yi", into its ninth week of showing, reported an average viewership rating of 25.3 percent on Monday and Tuesday, the figure falling by 1.9 percent from last week's average,...More

Bae Soo-bin's Song Picks2010/05/13, Source,
Actor Bae Soo-bin from a scene in MBC TV series "Dong Yi" [MBC]
He was not always the one who helps the main character. But whenever he took on the role of somewhat of a helper, he would be a reliable one with eyes that contain many indeterminable emotions. That is why actor Bae Soo-bin, whose filmography spans from being a womanizer in film "Girlfriends" to the incarnation of revenge in "Temptation of an Angel", is remembered as a trustworthy man with a disarming smile. That is also why the songs for traveling on a warm spring day as recommended by Bae, currently appearing as the reliable helper of main character Dong Yi (played by Han Hyo-joo) in MBC TV series "Dong Yi", are much like the actor himself. Song recommendations by this man who may not always stand out yet will have everyone's back are bound to make you feel less lonely even when traveling alone,...More

"Dong Yi" claims top spot on Mon-Tues nights again2010/05/12, Source,
Official poster of "Dong Yi" [MBC]
MBC epic series "Dong Yi" reigned TV charts with high viewership ratings again, proving to be no match up against other dramas shown in the Monday and Tuesday prime time slot.
According to statistics released by TNS Media Korea, ratings for "Dong Yi" rose from 25.8 on Monday to 28.5 percent the following day, indicating that the show may soon breach the 30 percent mark since first airing on March 22,...More

Ji Jin-hee says "happy to break stereotype" as a king2010/05/07, Source, Joint press interview with the cast of MBC TV series "Dong Yi"
Korean actor Ji Jin-hee on the set of TV series "Dong Yi" [MBC]Ji Jin-hee says he is "happy to break stereotype" playing a king The introduction of the "adorable King Sook-jong" was a landmark event for MBC TV series "Dong Yi" and the history of traditional dramas on the small screen. King Sook-jong is shown as a king who showers his royal blessings upon his servant court ladies with a bright smile, and one who runs around freely when he goes outside the palace walls for the first time. While the new character might have been born from director Lee Byeong-hoon's reinterpretation and writer Kim I-yeong's script, it was actor Ji Jin-hee who completed the transformation. We met the actor, who is showing new potential as a comic actor through KBS TV series "He Who Can't Marry" and film "Runaway from Home", at the joint press interview held May 6 on the Yong-in set of "Dong Yi",...More

Han Hyo-joo says she "hold fast" to her role in "Dong Yi"2010/05/07, Source, MBC's "Dong Yi" is a big obstacle for new dramas "Giant" by SBS and “Secret Agent Miss Oh" by KBS that are premiering next Monday. "Dong Yi", which took off to a slow start with low ratings, has solidified its position after the airing of several episodes to see its ratings breach the 20 percent mark. The drama full of distinctive characters including Chun-soo (Bae Soo-bin), Dong Yi (Han Hyo-joo) and Jang Hee-bin (Lee So-yeon) have been main driving force behind the show's recent surge in popularity. Below are the excerpts from the interview on the open set of "Dong Yi". 10: At the first press conference, you were worried about the cold. How is the weather now? Jung Jin-young (Jeong): It's the same as it was before. The weather was below zero two weeks ago.
Korean actress Lee So-yeon (left) and actor Bae Soo-bin (right) [MBC]
10: Doesn't Chun-soo have the hardest time, even though the rest of the cast has a rough time too. Bae Soo-bin (Bae): The most difficult scene for me was when I fell from the cliff,...More

"Dong Yi" continues to lead Mon-Tue dramas2010/05/06, Source,
Official poster of "Dong Yi" [MBC]
MBC TV series "Dong Yi" continued to bring in high ratings this week, taking the lead in the rivalry amongst shows in the Monday and Tuesday primetime slot.
Research firm TNS Media Korea revealed that "Dong Yi", into its seventh week of showing, recorded an average viewership rating of 22 percent on May 3 and 4, decreasing a slight 0.1 percent from last week,...More

"Dong Yi" steams past competition on Mon-Tue nights2010/04/28, Source,
A scene of Dong Yi (played by Han Hyo-joo) from "Dong Yi" [MBC]
MBC's traditional TV series "Dong Yi" remained the top Monday and Tuesday night drama as its ratings continued to steam forward this week, according to statistics on Wednesday.
Research firm TNS Media Korea revealed that "Dong Yi", now into its sixth week of showing, scored an average rating of 22.1 percent on April 26 and 27 to record its highest rating to date and a 2.7 percent jump from the previous week,...More

Korean Wave: The New Generation2010/04/23, Source,
Official poster for SBS TV series "Shining Inheritance" [SBS]
Korean dramas stir new waves in Japan
Fuji TV's program "Hallyu Alpha" (Mon-Fri 2:07~3:00), which started airing on January 11 in hopes of creating 'a new Hallyu generation', has been receiving positive feedback. Back in 2004, Fuji TV had arranged a program called "Saturday Hallyu Wide Hour", airing dramas such as "Stairway to Heaven" and "Sad Love Story" but had cancelled it due to low ratings. This time, "Hallyu Alpha" tried to differentiate itself from other programs by playing uncensored versions of dramas, providing bilingual broadcast (in Japanese and Korean) and adding special features such as exclusive interviews with the cast and behind-the-scenes footage. MBC TV series "My Name is Kim Sam-soon" kicked off the program, followed by KBS' "Women in the Sun" in February,...More

"Dong Yi" keeps strong lead on Mon-Tue dramas2010/04/21, Source,
Official drama poster of historical epic "Dong Yi" [MBC]
MBC TV series "Dong Yi" continued to score high ratings this week, maintaining a strong lead amongst dramas aired on Monday and Tuesday nights.
According to statistics released by AGB Nielsen Media Research on Wednesday, viewership ratings for the historical show stood at 19.2 percent on Monday while dropping one percent the following day. The show had recorded average ratings of 18.4 percent last week,...More

"Dong Yi" takes over "Rich" 2010/04/13, Source,
MBC historical drama "Dong Yi" [MBC]
MBC TV series "Dong Yi" made noticeable progress in ratings this week, beating out KBS' "Birth of a Rich Man" from the top spot of dramas aired on Monday and Tuesday nights.
According to statistics released by TNS Media Korea on Tuesday, the prime time show jumped in viewership ratings by three percent from its previous episode to 17.2 percent, the highest figure the show has seen since its premiere late last month,...More

"Dong Yi" sold overseas ahead of premiere2010/03/17, Source,
Official poster for MBC drama "Dong Yi - Jewel in the Crown" [MBC]
Historical epic "Dong Yi - Jewel in the Crown" has been sold overseas ahead of its airing in Korea, according to the show's broadcaster MBC on Wednesday.
The 50-part series starring top Korean actors Ji Jin-hee and Han Hyo-joo has been purchased by several countries in Asia including Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong to bring in profits worth over eight billion won, MBC explained,...More

[ChanMi's star news] Han Hyo-joo's bold glare2010/03/16, Source,
Is that really Han Hyo-joo?
She looks so different that we can barely recognize her.
Han always had the bright and active image that when she was in this photoshoot in Japan with bold poses and provoking glares, she looks so different!
She is not the same character we saw in the drama!
Han doesn't look Korean with her bright and colorful outfits that give,...More

"Pasta" makes proud exit from small screen2010/03/09, Source,
Official poster for MBC TV series "Pasta" [MBC]
MBC TV series "Pasta" made a proud exit from the small screen yesterday, scoring the highest ratings the show has ever seen during its 20-episode airing.
According to daily statistics released by research firms TNS Media Korea and AGB Nielsen Media Research, "Pasta" recorded national viewership ratings of 21.5 and 21.2 percent, respectively, for its final episode last night.
The culinary drama, which premiered in Korea on January 4, had started off with ratings around 13 percent and went on to breach the 20 percent mark when KBS2 TV series "Master of Study" ended its run last month.,...More

Han Hyo-joo to visit Japan for drama promotion2010/03/03, Source,
Korean actress Han Hyo-joo [BH Entertainment]
Korean actress Han Hyo-joo will visit Japan this week to promote her drama "Shining Inheritance" which began airing in the country on Tuesday.
Her agency BH Entertainment explained Thursday that Han, who played the lead female character Go Eun-sung in the series, is scheduled to arrive in Japan on Friday with co-star Lee Seung-gi for a press conference, hold interviews with some 80 journalists and participate in an event with selected fans.,...More

Kim Jae-joong to appear in Japanese TV series 2010/03/03, Source,
TVXQ member Kim Jae-joong [Asia Economic Daily]
Kim Jae-joong of Korean idol group TVXQ will appear in a Japanese television drama, according to a source close to the singer.
The source said in a phone call with Asia Economic Daily on Tuesday that "it has recently been confirmed that Kim Jae-joong will appear in a drama to air on Fuji TV".
The pop idol will be starring in the TV series titled "Sunao ni narenakute", written by popular television writer Kitagawa Eriko.,...More

Jang Seo-hee wins grand prize at SBS Drama Awards2010/01/04, Source,
Korean actress Jang Seo-hee at SBS Drama Awards [SBS]
Korean actress Jang Seo-hee won the grand prize at the SBS Drama Awards, held at SBS' Open Hall on December 31.
Jang was awarded the top honor for her role in "Temptation of Wife", which was one of the most-watched and most controversial dramas of the year for its sensational storyline.
"I didn't want to cry. I wanted to be cool about receiving [the award]".. said Jang in her acceptance speech. "I thought I wouldn't be able to win this because of the genre. I would like to thank writer Kim Soon-ok... I was in a slump for three years but she helped me make a comeback".,...More

Lee Joon-gi voted top Hallyu Star of 20092009/12/31, Source,
Hallyu star Lee Joon-gi [Mentor Entertainment]
Korean actor Lee Joon-gi has been voted top Hallyu Star of the year in a survey conducted by a Korean business news publication, according to a press release by his agency Mentor Entertainment on Thursday.
In a recent poll titled "2009 My Vote for Top 6 Stars of the Year", Finance and Economy News asked viewers who they thought were this year's top six entertainers in the following categories; Male idol group, Female group, Solo singer, Male actor, Female actress, Hallyu Star, Drama and Film. Each respondent was allowed to vote for one star in each category.
Results for the survey -- conducted from December 21 thru 29 -- were based on the votes cast by netizens as well as the site's Internet statistics, such as the number of times each star's news articles were read.,...More

This year's lineup of dramas proved to be interesting. There were young, handsome characters attracting female fans ("Boys over Flowers", KBS), smart housewives took over households and offices (",...More

TVXQ's Hero Debuts as Actor2009/11/10, Source, "Acting was a new experience for me. If I had more time, I would have done better", said Hero from the music group TVXQ at a news conference after the,...More

Convergence of movie and TV drama continues to evolve2009/11/05, Source, Simultaneous production of drama and its theatrical version increases efficiency
Generalization of digital shooting breaks down barriers of human resources & technology
Respect of different ways of producing broadcast programs and movies brings higher efficiency

Jeans Brands Woo Top Stars for Ads2009/10/15, Source, Jeans brands seem to be replacing cosmetics as the most coveted prize among Korea's advertising contracts. Traditionally, becoming the " face " of cosmetics brands was the recognition of bona fide sta,...More

[ChanMi's star news] Han Hyo-joo, "He's like an older brother"2009/07/17, Source, Han Hyo-joo has been in a love scandal with a fellow actor in the drama, "Shining Inheritance".
When reporters came and asked her about the relationship between her and the actor, she was unable to answer right away. This uncertain reply only brought up more questions and created a big scandal.
Even Han's entertainment company did not take action right away and this was a big issue for Han. A female actress' image is very crucial to her future endeavors in the industry and for a scandal to go off with a great drama right now would affect her.,...More

[ChanMi's star news] Han Hyo-joo on a trip alone to America2008/11/13, Source, Actress Han Hyo-joo is modeling for Korea Airlines. Han Hyo-joo went to take a Korea Airlines shoot 'America Edition' recently. For this commercial, she is introducing a new place where the consumers can travel. She is acting a new life and a new adventure crossing the American land. She has the old fashioned nostalgic look as well as modern sophistication, thus she is the best model for Korean Airlines. She is also a great actress, she can naturally depict a beautiful landscape being explored.,...More

There are a million film festivals through the year, but there are some that sparkle. The Deauville Asian Film Festival on the French Atlantic coast in Normandy is one, and this year it gave in its recent nint,...More

It is not too much to say that 2005 was the year of Daniel Henney. The model-turned-actor gained the status of a national heartthrob by playing angel-hearted doctor Henry Kim in last year's mega-hit televisi,...More

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i agree. may be shes not that beautiful
compared to others,, but i like her
compared to godest of korean actrees
today, because she is the complete
package of beauty, simplicity, sense of
humor, and addiction heheh.

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Truly a superb and talented actress!!!!
I am overwhelmed with joy and happiness
of the entire movie that you and the
entire cast brought to life!!! It is my
"FAVORITE" drama!!! So many Buddhist
concept in this drama!! I cried every
time Dong Yi

hyo joo is so beautiful.. i saw her koreanovela the spring waltz. i hope that it would be shown soon in tv. everybody would love it i swear!!! the story were very nice. everytime u see it u will be crying..i wish hyo joo would have a movie that is very enjoyoble and funny..

She is so beautiful and I am happy that I am the first person to post b/c I bet many people mostly I guess from the Philippines don't know her yet. Well I am Korean and I really like watching her on TV b/c she is so likeable and has an amazing smile. I love her in Nonstop 5 and other vareity shows. I just hope she gets recognized and become a huge star b/c she deserves it.

Han Hyo-joo (한효주)

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